EIP-AGRI Operational Groups - Collaboration and funding opportunities

In EIP-AGRI Operational Group projects, farmers, foresters, researchers, advisors and other innovators work together to test grassroots innovative ideas and develop them into solutions that address real needs from practice. More than 3 200 Operational Groups have been established across Europe since 2014, and about 6 600 more are planned under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2023-2027. These projects can benefit from exchanging knowledge with other projects working on similar or complementary themes, advisors, researchers and businesses from national or European innovation ecosystems.

National CAP Networks, advisory organisations or EU-wide projects under the Horizon Research and Innovation programme can facilitate opportunities for Operational Groups to connect, nationally and across the EU. The CAP now even offers the chance to set up transnational Operational Groups.

This brochure highlights examples of collaboration, funding opportunities, support platforms, and activities that can inspire National CAP Networks, Operational Groups and other innovators to connect and boost innovation across the EU.

A first chapter on ‘Connecting Operational Groups’ illustrates how Operational Groups can connect with other projects or innovators from national Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) to gain new ideas on how to tackle a common challenge, expand their networks, share results more widely, and boost knowledge and innovation.

Connecting can take the form of simple phone calls or virtual interactions, or looking up information on other projects that are working on similar or complementary themes, for instance in national or European databases. Attending networking events or cross-visits can boost peer-to-peer learning and be the start of further collaboration.

Chapter 2, ‘New funding opportunities for collaboration across borders’ explores cross-border and transnational Operational Groups as a new opportunity in the CAP for 2023-2027.

The final chapter highlights benefits from synergies with EU-wide networks, for instance with Horizon multi-actor projects including thematic networks and advisory networks.